Windmill Theatre, Great Windmill Street 1972

Tucked away on Great Windmill Street in the heart of Soho, the Windmill Theatre is one of London’s most storied and resilient venues. Famed for its defiance during the Blitz and for pioneering nude performances under the veil of “art”, the Windmill’s history is steeped in boldness, creativity, and a flair for the risqué.

From Silent Films to Art-House Cinema

The building first opened in 1909 as the Palais de Luxe, a silent cinema at a time when motion pictures were still a novelty. In 1929, it briefly transformed into the UK’s first art-house cinema under the direction of film pioneer Elsie Cohen, screening foreign films that were otherwise unseen in Britain. However, its cinema career was short-lived, and by the early 1930s, the building was struggling to survive.

Enter Mrs Henderson

Everything changed in 1931 when Laura Henderson, a wealthy widow with a taste for showmanship, purchased the venue and turned it into a live theatre. The newly named Windmill Theatre launched with traditional plays but failed to attract large audiences. Henderson responded by hiring Vivian Van Damm, a savvy manager who would soon redefine the theatre’s future.

Van Damm created a continuous variety show format called “Revudeville”, a blend of comedy, dance, and music. The turning point came in 1932 when he introduced tableaux vivants—live nude performances where the models remained perfectly still, mimicking classical art. This clever workaround allowed the theatre to bypass censorship laws, which only banned movement, not nudity itself. Thus was born the cheeky saying: “If you move, it’s rude.”

“We Never Closed”: The Blitz Years

When war broke out in 1939, most theatres across London shuttered under the threat of bombing raids. But not the Windmill. Except for a compulsory closure in the early days of the war, the Windmill remained open every single day throughout the Blitz. Underground dressing rooms and reinforced shelter spaces protected performers and staff during air raids, and the theatre’s now-famous slogan, “We Never Closed”, became a symbol of London’s wartime resilience.

Behind the performances was the unwavering determination of Laura Henderson and Vivian Van Damm. Their partnership—marked by both creative tension and mutual respect—was later immortalised in the 2005 film Mrs Henderson Presents, starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins.

A Comedy Training Ground

While the nude tableaux drew headlines, the Windmill also proved to be a launching pad for British comedy legends. The likes of Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Tony Hancock, Bruce Forsyth, and Barry Cryer all graced the Windmill’s stage in their early years. It became a proving ground for new talent, blending cheeky charm with razor-sharp wit.

Decline, Closure, and Reinvention

As Soho’s entertainment scene changed in the 1960s—with strip clubs and more explicit content becoming widespread—the Windmill’s once-daring format began to seem old-fashioned. The theatre closed in 1964 and reopened briefly as the Windmill Cinema before evolving into a burlesque and adult entertainment venue under the ownership of Paul Raymond.

Through the decades, the building changed hands and identities several times, operating under names like La Vie en Rose, and becoming part of Soho’s seedy reputation during the 1970s and 80s. But the Windmill’s legacy was never forgotten.

A New Era: The Windmill Soho

In 2021, after a £10 million refurbishment, the Windmill was reborn as The Windmill Soho, a stylish venue combining dinner, cabaret, and immersive theatre. With references to its glamorous past and the name “Henderson’s” gracing its basement speakeasy bar, the new Windmill honours its roots while offering a 21st-century experience.

Now seating around 350 guests, the venue once again provides non-stop entertainment—though this time with a modern twist, complete with DJs, dancers, gourmet dining, and theatrical flair.